REMOVING UNWANTED NOISE
Read REMOVING UNWANTED NOISE and check the IELTS Reading answers. A noisy restaurant, a busy road, or a windy day are all situations that can be intensely frustrating for the hearing impaired when trying to understand what other people are saying. Some 10 million people in the UK suffer from hearin…
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A noisy restaurant, a busy road, or a windy day are all situations that can be intensely frustrating for the hearing impaired when trying to understand what other people are saying. Some 10 million people in the UK suffer from hearing difficulties and, helpful as hearing aids are, those who wear them often complain that background noise continues to interfere with their understanding. But what if hearing aid wearers could choose to filter out all the troublesome sounds and focus just on the voices they want to hear? Engineer Dr Richard Turner believes that this is fast becoming a possibility. He is developing a system that identifies the distracting noise and ‘rubs it out’. ‘The poor performance in noise of current hearing devices is a major reason why six million people in the UK who would benefit from hearing aids do not use them,’ he said. Moreover, as the population ages, a greater number of people will be hindered by the inability to hear clearly. In addition, hearing-impaired patients who have been fitted with cochlear implants – devices implanted to help those whose auditory hair cells have died – suffer from similar limitations.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- algorithm noun
A process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or problem-solving operations
Engineers developed algorithms that mimic the way the human brain processes various acoustic signals.
- auditory adjective
Relating to the sense of hearing or the organs of hearing and sound
Cochlear implants help patients whose auditory hair cells have ceased to function correctly.
- incorporate verb
To take in or include something as part of a whole; to integrate
Manufacturers are looking to incorporate machine learning techniques into their latest audio processing software.
- intelligible adjective
Able to be understood; clear enough to be comprehended by a listener
Isolating speech from background noise makes phone conversations much more intelligible in busy environments.
- machine learning noun
The use and development of computer systems that are able to learn and adapt
The new system uses advanced methods from the field of machine learning to recognize sounds.
- perception noun
The ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses
Cleaning up background noise is essential to improve the listener's perception in difficult acoustic surroundings.
- plagued verb
Continually troubled or distressed by something annoying or painful
Tinnitus sufferers are often plagued by a constant ringing sensation in their ears.
- preliminary adjective
Denoting an action or event preceding or done in preparation for something fuller
If these preliminary tests are successful, the company will incorporate the technology into devices.
- simulate verb
To imitate the appearance or character of something for the purpose of study
The team will spend two years simulating the effects of various audio modifications.
- underpin verb
To support, justify, or form the basis for a theory, argument, or technology
The research aims to develop the technical framework that will underpin future intelligent hearing devices.
Answers with explanations
- 14. v
Section 1 introduces the problem of **background noise** interfering with **hearing aids**. This limitation is described as a 'complaint' and a 'drawback' in existing technology, preventing millions from using them. The focus is on the **deficiency** or **drawback** of current help, which matches Heading v. Answer: v.
- 15. iii
Section 2 details the **mathematical analysis** and the creation of **algorithms** to categorize sounds. It explains the use of statistics and machine learning to build a **model** that recognizes and differentiates sounds. This process of creating a classification framework aligns with Heading iii. Answer: iii.
- 16. ix
Section 3 discusses the future of hearing aids having **different modes** (car, train, party). The key point is that the device could **intelligently select** or **adjust itself** to the environment the user is in. This matches the concept of a self-adjusting hearing aid in Heading ix. Answer: ix.
- 17. iv
Section 4 focuses on the work that still needs to be done. It mentions a timeframe of **two more years** of simulation and preliminary tests before partnering with companies. These are **potential developments** that are not yet ready and **require further research**, matching Heading iv. Answer: iv.
- 18. vii
Section 5 specifically addresses **tinnitus**. It explains how the new technology could provide **better distraction sounds** compared to current limited options. This is a **more effective way** to manage the 'hearing problem' by taking attention away from the ringing, aligning with Heading vii. Answer: vii.
- 19. ii
Section 6 explains how this technology can benefit **phone calls** and **video-sharing websites**. These are examples of **media and communications** applications outside of traditional hearing aids. This broad range of utility matches the scope of Heading ii. Answer: ii.
- 20. identical
The blank requires an adjective describing sounds. The text states that 'No two rain sounds are **identical**'. The summary phrases this as 'Although sounds are **never identical**, he believes they do share some similarities.' The word 'identical' fits both the meaning and the grammar of the sentence. Answer: identical.
- 21. algorithms
The blank requires a noun for the mathematical tool used. The passage says the team developed **algorithms** that 'mimic what the brain is doing'. This corresponds to the summary's mention of a system that 'replicate how we hear sounds'. The plural noun 'algorithms' fits syntactically. Answer: algorithms.
- 22. statistics
The blank requires a noun for what is used to describe sounds. The text notes that a 'small set of **statistics**' is sufficient for this purpose. The summary refers to a 'limited number of [blank]', which mirrors the text's 'small set of statistics'. The plural noun 'statistics' is the correct fit. Answer: statistics.
- 23. speech
The blank requires a noun for the type of sound the system can identify. The passage states the system can tell 'the difference between **speech** and other types of sound'. This matches the summary's claim that the system can 'distinguish [blank] from other sounds'. Answer: speech.
- 24. B
The correct answer reflects the device's ability to **adapt itself** to environments. The text mentions modes for cars, trains, and parties, and notes the device could **intelligently select** the right mode. Other options regarding distance, total sound removal, or other senses are not mentioned or supported by the text. Answer: B.
- 25. A
The text lists these as examples of sounds provided by current generators that people **sometimes use** for tinnitus. This confirms they are sounds that sufferers **can currently use**. Other options suggesting they are unavailable, or are the actual tinnitus sounds, are incorrect based on the passage. Answer: A.
- 26. A
The writer uses the roadside example to show how the technology could **isolate speech from noises** in videos. It specifically mentions that users could **de-noise** their recordings. This illustrates that unwanted noise could be erased from media, making option A the only supported conclusion. Answer: A.